Comments on: Applying to Film School: My UCLA Statement of Purpose http://jasonbkohl.com/archives/2009/applying-to-film-school-my-ucla-statement-of-purpose/ Sun, 09 Oct 2011 19:58:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: How I Got Into UCLA Film School | jasonbkohl.com http://jasonbkohl.com/archives/2009/applying-to-film-school-my-ucla-statement-of-purpose/comment-page-1/#comment-125 How I Got Into UCLA Film School | jasonbkohl.com Sat, 19 Dec 2009 22:26:50 +0000 http://jasonbkohl.wordpress.com/?p=432#comment-125 [...] the University of Texas in the United States. For UCLA, the only school I interviewed for, I sent a statement of purpose, a two page pitch about an ice hockey referee, a resume and three recommendation letters. The rec [...] [...] the University of Texas in the United States. For UCLA, the only school I interviewed for, I sent a statement of purpose, a two page pitch about an ice hockey referee, a resume and three recommendation letters. The rec [...]

]]> By: Christa http://jasonbkohl.com/archives/2009/applying-to-film-school-my-ucla-statement-of-purpose/comment-page-1/#comment-107 Christa Thu, 15 Oct 2009 02:34:05 +0000 http://jasonbkohl.wordpress.com/?p=432#comment-107 Thank you very very much, you've been of great help. I downloaded the podcasts and am planning on listening to them soon. Sounds like you're enjoying your time out there, good luck with everything and hopefully I will be crewing for you next year! Thank you very very much, you’ve been of great help. I downloaded the podcasts and am planning on listening to them soon. Sounds like you’re enjoying your time out there, good luck with everything and hopefully I will be crewing for you next year!

]]> By: jasonbkohl http://jasonbkohl.com/archives/2009/applying-to-film-school-my-ucla-statement-of-purpose/comment-page-1/#comment-105 jasonbkohl Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:15:19 +0000 http://jasonbkohl.wordpress.com/?p=432#comment-105 Thank you so much! For the two-minute films we have pitched the undergrads to work with us as PAs as well as in other positions. We are pretty strictly regulated on crew for our two-minute films, but I will have an undergraduate still photographer who will also help in the camera department and PA. I know that people work more with undergraduates on their six-minute projects, where there is more time and freedom in the way of crew. I've heard that the undergraduate film program at UCLA only begins in the third year, that in the first two years you take classes in other disciplines and then petition to join the undergraduate program. In all honesty, the most promising alumni from UCLA in past years have come from the undergraduate program and not the graduate one. Dustin Lance Black, Oscar winning screenwriter for Milk, was an undergraduate here, as well as Gina Prince Bythewood, who directed the Secret Life of Bees. My theory on why this is is that they have more time to develop after school within the industry. If you have time you should listen to their interviews on <a href="http://www.creativescreenwriting.com/podcasts/main.html" rel="nofollow">Creative Screenwriting's Podcast </a>, where they talk about their transition from film school to the industry. Other than that I havent' had too much experience with the undergrads. You do share the same faculty though, including the wonderful <a href="http://www.tft.ucla.edu/faculty/william-mcdonald/" rel="nofollow">Bill Mcdonald</a>, who's vice chair. Hope this helps! Jason Thank you so much! For the two-minute films we have pitched the undergrads to work with us as PAs as well as in other positions. We are pretty strictly regulated on crew for our two-minute films, but I will have an undergraduate still photographer who will also help in the camera department and PA. I know that people work more with undergraduates on their six-minute projects, where there is more time and freedom in the way of crew. I’ve heard that the undergraduate film program at UCLA only begins in the third year, that in the first two years you take classes in other disciplines and then petition to join the undergraduate program. In all honesty, the most promising alumni from UCLA in past years have come from the undergraduate program and not the graduate one. Dustin Lance Black, Oscar winning screenwriter for Milk, was an undergraduate here, as well as Gina Prince Bythewood, who directed the Secret Life of Bees. My theory on why this is is that they have more time to develop after school within the industry. If you have time you should listen to their interviews on Creative Screenwriting’s Podcast , where they talk about their transition from film school to the industry.
Other than that I havent’ had too much experience with the undergrads. You do share the same faculty though, including the wonderful Bill Mcdonald, who’s vice chair.

Hope this helps!

Jason

]]> By: Christa http://jasonbkohl.com/archives/2009/applying-to-film-school-my-ucla-statement-of-purpose/comment-page-1/#comment-104 Christa Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:46:05 +0000 http://jasonbkohl.wordpress.com/?p=432#comment-104 That essay is beautiful, I have read it about three times. I am applying to UCLA for the BA Film Program for fall semester 2010, and this has also been very helpful to me. Are you able to work with undergraduates as a graduate student? I know many people have told me that undergrads receive much less attention than graduate students, do you have an opinion on the undergraduate program at UCLA? That essay is beautiful, I have read it about three times. I am applying to UCLA for the BA Film Program for fall semester 2010, and this has also been very helpful to me. Are you able to work with undergraduates as a graduate student? I know many people have told me that undergrads receive much less attention than graduate students, do you have an opinion on the undergraduate program at UCLA?

]]> By: Ben Hur http://jasonbkohl.com/archives/2009/applying-to-film-school-my-ucla-statement-of-purpose/comment-page-1/#comment-102 Ben Hur Tue, 13 Oct 2009 02:13:23 +0000 http://jasonbkohl.wordpress.com/?p=432#comment-102 Hey, this is helping me too. I am applying to USC and UCLA because I have a friend that is working in the industry. Your SOP is very helpful. I'm also a international student thanks for this! Hey, this is helping me too.
I am applying to USC and UCLA because I have a friend that is working in the
industry. Your SOP is very helpful. I’m also a international student
thanks for this!

]]> By: Pau http://jasonbkohl.com/archives/2009/applying-to-film-school-my-ucla-statement-of-purpose/comment-page-1/#comment-98 Pau Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:38:01 +0000 http://jasonbkohl.wordpress.com/?p=432#comment-98 Hey Jason, thanks for the advise. I am trying to edit the text I sent last year, while I prepare the strongest creative materials. In fact, I was going to ask you if you have any friends among the Screenwriting Fellows at UCLA, and if you could ask them if I can contact them to discuss some of the questions about the program that I still have. What I have tried to do with my Statement is to put my writing style on it, by discribing some situations as if they were happening in one of my screenplays. I feel very comfortable writing screenplays and prose, but I am trying not to miss anything worth mentioning in my text...Well, I am sure you know what I mean. I am not a native speaker, and I always try to find somebody to take a look to my materials, thanks for the advice! PS: I checked your classmate's page. Very interesting and helpful. Thanks for everything and keep posting! PAU Hey Jason,

thanks for the advise. I am trying to edit the text I sent last year, while I prepare the strongest creative materials. In fact, I was going to ask you if you have any friends among the Screenwriting Fellows at UCLA, and if you could ask them if I can contact them to discuss some of the questions about the program that I still have.

What I have tried to do with my Statement is to put my writing style on it, by discribing some situations as if they were happening in one of my screenplays. I feel very comfortable writing screenplays and prose, but I am trying not to miss anything worth mentioning in my text…Well, I am sure you know what I mean.

I am not a native speaker, and I always try to find somebody to take a look to my materials, thanks for the advice!

PS: I checked your classmate’s page. Very interesting and helpful.

Thanks for everything and keep posting!

PAU

]]> By: jasonbkohl http://jasonbkohl.com/archives/2009/applying-to-film-school-my-ucla-statement-of-purpose/comment-page-1/#comment-93 jasonbkohl Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:49:03 +0000 http://jasonbkohl.wordpress.com/?p=432#comment-93 Hi Pau, I'm glad you like the blog, I've tried to make it helpful for people like you. It's smart to make sure the money stuff is settled before you get over here. As a screenwriter you thankfully won't have to deal with ridiculous production costs. I think you should change your statement of purpose only if you think you have changed in ways worth mentioning. I think if you mention the last year you might demonstrate patience, tenacity and dedication, all qualities sought-after. I'm pretty sure Paul's statement, though much longer than mine, is still two pages. On another note, find a native speaker (that is if you aren't) who has writing experience look over your statement of purpose and all of your materials, especially since you're applying to the screenwriting program. For another good example, look at <a href="http://brynachday.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">Brynach Day (a fellow classmate)'s </a> website. He has what is basically his statement of purpose on there as well. Hope this helps, thanks for reading, and good luck with your application! Jason Hi Pau,

I’m glad you like the blog, I’ve tried to make it helpful for people like you. It’s smart to make sure the money stuff is settled before you get over here. As a screenwriter you thankfully won’t have to deal with ridiculous production costs.

I think you should change your statement of purpose only if you think you have changed in ways worth mentioning. I think if you mention the last year you might demonstrate patience, tenacity and dedication, all qualities sought-after.

I’m pretty sure Paul’s statement, though much longer than mine, is still two pages. On another note, find a native speaker (that is if you aren’t) who has writing experience look over your statement of purpose and all of your materials, especially since you’re applying to the screenwriting program. For another good example, look at Brynach Day (a fellow classmate)’s website. He has what is basically his statement of purpose on there as well.

Hope this helps, thanks for reading, and good luck with your application!

Jason

]]> By: Pau http://jasonbkohl.com/archives/2009/applying-to-film-school-my-ucla-statement-of-purpose/comment-page-1/#comment-92 Pau Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:49:38 +0000 http://jasonbkohl.wordpress.com/?p=432#comment-92 Hey Jason! thanks a lot for posting this! I have been reading some of your posts and it is very interesting to have a fisrt opinion about UCLA from the inside. My name is Pau Dalmases, I am from Barcelona, and I am applying to five schools in the US (UCLA, USC, AFI, NYU and COLUMBIA). I was accepted at AFI and COLUMBIA last year, but I couldn't make it because of my money problems. But this year I got a Scholarship and will try it again! I am working on my material for UCLA MFA in Screenwriting. I have several shorts I have recently written, and I want to change a little bit tha Statement of Purpose I wrote for AFI and COLUMBIA last year. I don't know if I should change it a lot, since it got me in last year...What do you think? Regarding the length of the statement, I have seen that your friend Paul's statement is way longer than yours. It is still 2 pages long, right? Thanks for posting this and good luck with your Direction studies! Hey Jason!
thanks a lot for posting this!
I have been reading some of your posts and it is very interesting to have a fisrt opinion about UCLA from the inside.
My name is Pau Dalmases, I am from Barcelona, and I am applying to five schools in the US (UCLA, USC, AFI, NYU and COLUMBIA). I was accepted at AFI and COLUMBIA last year, but I couldn’t make it because of my money problems. But this year I got a Scholarship and will try it again!

I am working on my material for UCLA MFA in Screenwriting. I have several shorts I have recently written, and I want to change a little bit tha Statement of Purpose I wrote for AFI and COLUMBIA last year. I don’t know if I should change it a lot, since it got me in last year…What do you think?

Regarding the length of the statement, I have seen that your friend Paul’s statement is way longer than yours. It is still 2 pages long, right?

Thanks for posting this and good luck with your Direction studies!

]]> By: Applying to Film School: Paul Reisinger's Statement of Purpose | jasonbkohl.com http://jasonbkohl.com/archives/2009/applying-to-film-school-my-ucla-statement-of-purpose/comment-page-1/#comment-79 Applying to Film School: Paul Reisinger's Statement of Purpose | jasonbkohl.com Sat, 19 Sep 2009 01:25:39 +0000 http://jasonbkohl.wordpress.com/?p=432#comment-79 [...] My UCLA Statement of Purpose Share: [...] [...] My UCLA Statement of Purpose Share: [...]

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